I have a 55 gal that has been set up for 2 years now and this is my first algae outbreak. It has been going on for about 2 months now. Every two weeks I go in and clip all the leaves that I can see that are infected but of course I don't get it all so it comes back with vigor. Can anyone tell me what this algae is and what is the best way to get rid of it?

chevyguy8893

11-12-2012 05:07 PM

It looks like black brush algae to me, but I could be wrong. The only way I have found to get rid of that algae is to remove the badly covered leaves, spot treat the small spots with seachem excel if your tank allows for it, and identify the source of the outbreak (i.e. too much light). If I identified it correctly, I will leave the details of eliminating it to the more experienced members.

ua hua

11-12-2012 05:07 PM

That is BBA and as far as getting rid of it..... Good luck. The reasons for it appearing are low co2, too much light, buildup of organics, and whatever else somebody wants to blame it in or a combination of all of them. Some kind of imbalance is the most straight forward answer. I have had it come and then disappear completely just to come back again. You can do a search for BBA and see all the threads that are started about this. You can spot treat with Excel or hydrogen peroxide and keep it from spreading.

BBradbury

11-12-2012 05:09 PM

Algae

Hello goob...

Pretty good pics. The stuff just looks like a variety of hair algae. I had it in my 55 Gs at one time. It grew on plants and even on my tank heaters. Very fine stuff. But pretty.

Anyway, reduce the amount you feed. By reducing the dissolved nutrients in the water, there won't be enough to sustain the algae, so it will start to shrink.

I feed my fish and plants just a little a couple of times a week. Fish and plants are extremely small and don't require much food. In nature, they're fortunate to eat once a week, so don't overdo it and you won't have algae problems.

B

ua hua

11-12-2012 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBradbury
(Post 2076171)

Hello goob...

Pretty good pics. The stuff just looks like a variety of hair algae. I had it in my 55 Gs at one time. It grew on plants and even on my tank heaters. Very fine stuff. But pretty.

Anyway, reduce the amount you feed. By reducing the dissolved nutrients in the water, there won't be enough to sustain the algae, so it will start to shrink.

I feed my fish and plants just a little a couple of times a week. Fish and plants are extremely small and don't require much food. In nature, they're fortunate to eat once a week, so don't overdo it and you won't have algae problems.

B

That is not hair algae. It's most definitely BBA. Check the sticky at the top of this forum and look under the Algae resource guide.

Gooberfish

11-13-2012 12:17 AM

I've had bba before. I did a large water chagne and just tossed away the plants that had it, and I haven't seen it since.

Btw, nice name :)

goober_1407

11-13-2012 12:29 AM

That is what I just finished doing...75% water change, scrubbed the walls and filters, cut my plants back about 75% as well. Lets see what happens.